Lorch: Chiefs have good goalkeepers despite Khune injury

Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs still have good goalkeepers despite the absence of Itumeleng Khune, according to Orlando Pirates midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch.

As Lorch and his teammates prepare for the big derby against their Soweto rivals, Chiefs have a crisis in the shot-stopper department with number one Khune side-lined for the remainder of the season.

Virgil Vries has made some costly mistakes recently while the Amakhosi signed Chippa United keeper Daniel Akpeyi in the January transfer window.

It will be interesting to see who Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp opts to play in between the sticks against Pirates, with inexperienced youngster Bruce Bvuma also in the mix.

Pirates though will not base their game plan on certain players and Lorch feels their arch-rivals have sufficient cover for Khune.

Lorch told the KickOff website: "They have good goalkeepers despite Khune being injured, I think.

"They now have Akpeyi, who has done well previously for Chippa United, and Vries too - it's just those little mistakes that have made him seem like a bad goalkeeper, but he is good.

"I wouldn't really comment on their keepers, they [Chiefs] are still capable of doing well without Khune. We can't focus on individuals, but we have to look at where their weaknesses [as a team] are and try to capitalize on that.

"We will keep doing what we've done in the past Derbies. It's not only about one player but we have to plan around all the players that will play on Saturday."

Pirates need the victory to maintain pressure on league leaders Wits with the Buccanneers now five points behind the Clever Boys.

Lorch continued: "These three points are very important for us because they can help us stay amongst the teams on top like Wits and Sundowns.

"We have to get maximum points only, we can't afford to lose this one. But we won’t put ourselves under pressure, we will play our normal game and try to win as we do in other games."

Kick-off is at 15:00 on Saturday.